Alexandre Aires da Silva—Curriculum Vitae

Blue shark (photo by D. Perrine/ImagDOP)

Personal Details

E-mail: asilva@u.washington.edu
Citizenship: Portuguese
Place of Birth: Lourenço Marques, Mozambique
Date of birth: 2 December, 1971
Office address: School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Box 355020,
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-5020, USA.
Phone: 206-221-6776
E-mail: asilva@u.washington.edu

Education

Working Experience

Teaching

Teaching Assistant

Dec. 1999: Lectured the laboratory classes of the course "Stock Assessment and Population Dynamics of Marine Resources" by Dr. Mário R. Pinho Biology (Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Universidade dos Açores). Course was given to senior students of the undergraduate degree of Biology, Universidade dos Açores, Portugal.

Undergraduate Thesis Supervisor

1999—Thesis titled "Testing of age determination techniques in skeletal structures of deep-water sharks from the Azores" by Ana C. Giga (UCTRA–Universidade do Algarve, Portugal). The student received final classification of 19 points (out of a 20-point grade scale).

1999—Thesis titled "Characterization of the incidental catches associated with the swordfish longline fishery in the Azores" by Rogério L. Ferreira (UCTRA-Universidade do Algarve, Portugal). The student received final classification of 19 points (out of a 20-point grade scale).

1999—Thesis titled "Age and growth of the tope shark, Galeorhinus galeus (Triakidae), in the Azores" by Pedro C. Duarte (Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal). The student received final classification of 18 points (out of a 20-point grade scale).

Research

2000-2003: Portuguese (Azores) partner in the research project "Development of Elasmobranch Assessments, DELASS". The project involved the participation of 16 European partners and received financial support from the European Community (Study Contract 99/055).

Jul. 1998—Jun. 2000: Senior Research Technician at Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Universidade dos Açores, Portugal. Study of elasmobranch fisheries biology.

Nov. 1996—Jun. 1998: Research Assistant at Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Universidade dos Açores, Portugal. Study of elasmobranch Pescas, Universidade dos Açores, Portugal. Study of fisheries biology

Consultant Activities

Sep. 2004—Sep 2005: Contracted by NOAA-NMFS to investigate the population dynamics of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the North Atlantic.

Jul 2003: Contracted by NOAA-NMFS for continuing assistance with recovery of historical research survey data on pelagic sharks and link this information with biological data available in tagging records and deck disposition (biological records). NEFSC, Narragansett Laboratory, RI.

Jul.—Aug. 2002: Contracted by NOAA-NMFS to assist with linking survey catch and effort records with biological data (size and sex) available in tagging records and deck disposition (biological records). NEFSC, Narragansett Laboratory, RI.

Jun.—Jul. 2002: Contracted by NOAA-NMFS to assist with recovery of historical research survey data on pelagic sharks. Office of Science and Technology. Headquarters offices, Silver Spring, MD.

Aug. 1995: Scientific and technical consultant in the reception of sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus and Eugomphodus taurus) transported form USA to the Zoomarine Oceanographic Park (Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal), by Nomad Marine Research Center (Florida, USA).

Scholarships and Awards Received

Travel Grants

Jun. 2003: Received travel grant from SAFS-UW to give talk at the 19th Annual Meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society. Manaus, Amazon, Brazil, June 26-July 1. Invited speaker at the symposium "Quantitative methods for the Study and Assessment of Elasmobranch Populations: Theory and Practice."

Jan. 2000: Received travel grant from the Luso-American Development Foundation for participating as International Invited Speaker at the "International Pelagic Shark Workshop." Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California, February 14-17, 2000.

1999: Received travel grant from the Luso-American Development Foundation for prospecting PhD program in USA. Visit to the Center of Marine Science and Technologies (CMAST-UMASS), University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, USA, summer.

Publications

Book Chapters

Silva, A.A., R.L. Ferreira and J.J. Pereira. In press. Blue shark catch rate patterns from the swordfish longline fishery in the Azores, eastern North Atlantic. In: Sharks of the Open Ocean. E.K. Pikitch and M. Camhi, eds. Blackwell Scientific.

Refereed Publications

Silva, A.A. V.F. Gallucci, A.B. Bolten, H.R. Martins, E. Isidro, M. Santos, R. Ferreira, E. Bettencourt, V.S. Pires, A. Giga, A. Cruz, N. Carvalho, and K.A. Bjorndal. In preparation. Reproductive parameters and spatial distribution patterns of the blue shark, Prionace glauca, in the Azores, eastern North Atlantic.

Silva, A.A., H.M. Silva, K. Erzini and V.F. Gallucci. In review. A meta-analysis on the growth of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the North Atlantic with implications for conservation.

Hulbert, L.B. A.A. Silva, V.F. Gallucci and J. Rice. In review. Seasonal foraging movements and migratory patterns of female salmon sharks, Lamna ditropis, tagged in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Silva, A.A., P. Duarte, A. Giga and G. Menezes. 1998. First record of the Spined pygmy shark (Squaliolus laticaudus) in the Azores, extending its distribution in the North-eastern Atlantic. Arquipélago. Life and Marine Sciences 16A: 57-61. Ponta Delgada. ISSN 0873-4704.

Ferreira, R.L., H.R. Martins, A.A. Silva and A.B. Bolten. 2001. Impact of swordfish fisheries on sea turtles in the Azores. Arquipélago. Life and Marine Sciences 18A: 75-79. Ponta Delgada. ISSN 0873-4704.

Thesis

Undergraduate

Silva, A.A. 1996. Contribution to the knowledge of the age and growth of the blue shark, Prionace glauca (Carcharhinidae), in the North Atlantic. Undergraduate Thesis of the Marine Biology and Fisheries Degree. Universidade do Algarve, Portugal. 73 p.

Graduate

PhD Dissertation in progress at SAFS-UW. Population dynamics of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the North Atlantic. Dissertation chapters are the following: - Chapter 1: General introduction - Chapter 2: Demography of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the North Atlantic. - Chapter 3: Estimation of blue shark (Prionace glauca) abundance indices for the western North Atlantic from fishery-independent data. - Chapter 4: Spatio-temporal patterns of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the North Atlantic. - Chapter 5: An integrated tagging and population dynamics model for the blue shark, Prionace glauca, in the North Atlantic.

Conference Proceedings

Silva, A.A., H.M. Silva and K. Erzini. 1996. Some results on the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in Azorean waters from a research cruise by the R/V Arquipélago. 9 p. Written contribution to the Conference Third European Shark and Ray Conference. Birmingham, United Kingdom, 26-27 October.

Technical Reports

Silva, A.A., I. Taylor, A.E. Punt, V.F. Gallucci, N.E. Kohler, P.A. Turner, R. Briggs and J.J. Hoey. 2004. A framework for estimating movement and fishing mortality rates of the blue shark, Prionace glauca, in the North Atlantic Ocean from tag-recapture data. International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, SCRS/2004/112.

Silva, A.A. 2000.The swordfish fishery in the Azores: an overview. In: Workshop to design an experiment to determine the effects of longline gear modification on sea turtle bycatch rates. (eds A.B. Bolten, H.R. Martins and K.A. Bjorndal). U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-OPR- 19, pp. 3-16.

Prieto, R., R. Ferreira and A.A Silva. 2000. Turtle bycatch study in the longline fisheries of the Azores. In: Workshop to design an experiment to determine the effects of longline gear modification on sea turtle bycatch rates. (eds A.B. Bolten, H.R. Martins and K.A. Bjorndal). U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-OPR-19, pp. 22-28.

Menezes, G., M.R. Pinho, H. Krug and A.A. Silva. 2000. Monitoring of relative abundances of demersal fish species in the Azores. Progress report. Arquivos do DOP, Série Estudos 1 (2000). ISSN 0873-2876. 34 p. + appendices.

Silva, A.A. and J.J. Pereira. 1998. Catch rates for pelagic sharks taken by the Portuguese swordifish fishery in the waters around the Azores, 1993- 1997. International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, SCRS/98/168.

Silva, A.A., M. Pinho, M. Freirtas, J.I. Santana and P.P. Alayón. 1997. Report of the deep-sea shark research cruise in the Azores. Arquivos do DOP, Série Cruzeiros, 2. ISSN 0873-2876. 14 p.

Silva, A.A., A. Giga, P. Duarte, M. Freitas, J.I. Santana and P.P. Alayón. 1997. Report of the Workshop "Aging elasmobranchs from vertebral centra." Arquivos do DOP, Série Relatórios Internos, 3. ISSN 0873-2841. 17 p.

Silva, H.M., A.A. Silva and P. Simões. 1996. Report of the large pelagics research cruise in the Azores (ARQPAÇO-01-O93/P94). Arquivos do DOP, Série Cruzeiros, 1 (1996). ISSN 0873-2876. 33 p.

Presentations at Scientific Conferences

Oral Presentations

Silva, A.A., N.E. Kohler, P.A. Turner, R. Briggs, J.J. Hoey, M. Logsdon. and V.F. Gallucci. 2003. Estimation of population parameters for the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the North Atlantic from mark-recapture analysis. 19th Annual Meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society. Manaus. Amazon, Brazil, June 26-July 1. Invited speaker at the symposium "Quantitative methods for the Study and Assessment of Elasmobranch Populations: Theory and Practice."

Silva, A.A. 2003. Estimation of population parameters for the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the North Atlantic from mark-recapture analysis. Quantitative Seminar Series, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, June.

Silva A.A. 2000. Blue shark (Prionace glauca) catches in the Azores archipelago: a North Atlantic global perspective. 11th Annual Graduate Student Symposium, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA, November 9.

Silva, A.A., R.L. Ferreira and J.J. Pereira. 2000. Pelagic shark catches associated with the swordfish longline fishery in the Azores: an overview. International meeting of the 19th Azorean Fisheries Week. Horta, Azores, Portugal, March 27-31.

Silva, A.A., R.L. Ferreira and J.J. Pereira. 2000. 2000. Pelagic shark catches associated with the swordfish longline fishery in the Azores: an overview. Quantitative Seminar Series, School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, February 21.

Silva, A.A., R.L. Ferreira and J.J. Pereira. 2000. Pelagic shark catches associated with the swordfish longline fishery in the Azores: an overview. International Pelagic Shark Workshop. Pacific Grove, California, USA, February 14-17. International Invited Speaker. USA, June 26 to July 2. Shark Catches in the Azores. 78th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 16-22 July.

Silva, A. A., G. Menezes and J. J. Pereira. 1998. A first glance at pelagic shark catches in the Azores. International meeting of the 17th Azorean Fisheries Week. Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal, 16-20 March.

Silva, A. A., H.M. Silva and K. Erzini. 1997. Some results on the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in Azorean waters from a research cruise by the R/V Arquipélago. 77th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. University of Washington, Seattle, USA, June 26 to July 2.

Posters

Ferreira, R.L., A.A. Silva and H.R. Martins. 2000. Description of the catches associated with the swordfish fishery in the Azores. International meeting of the 19th Azorean Fisheries Week. Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal, March 27-31.

Giga, A.S. and A.A. Silva. 2000. Application of aging techniques to deep- water sharks: preliminary results. International meeting of the 19th Azorean Fisheries Week. Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal, March 27-31.

Lemos M., L.S. Gonçalves, M.R. Pinho, E. Isidro, A.A. Silva and G.M. Menezes. 2000. Two research vessels at the service of the Region: R/V Arquipélago. International meeting of the 19th Azorean Fisheries Week. Horta. Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal, March 27-31.

Lemos M., L.S. Gonçalves, M.R. Pinho, E. Isidro, A.A. Silva and G.M. Menezes. 2000. Two research vessels at the service of the Region: R/V Águas Vivas. International meeting of the 19th Azorean Fisheries Week. Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal, March 27-31.

Duarte P.N., G.M. Menezes, H. Krug, E. Isidro, M.R. Pinho and A.A. Silva. 2000. Demersal fish tagging in the Azores. International meeting of the 19th Azorean Fisheries Week. Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal, March 27-31.

Duarte, P.N., A.A. Silva & G. Menezes. 1999. Age and growth of juvenile tope shark, Galeorhinus galeus, in Azorean waters. International meeting of the 18th Azorean Fisheries Week. Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal, 22-26 March.

Silva, A.A., H.M. Silva and K. Erzini. 1997. A "snapshot" of blue shark (Prionace glauca) juvenile growth in the Atlantic in 1993-1994. 77th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. University of Washington, Seattle, USA, June 26 to July 2.

Silva, A.A., H.M. Silva and K. Erzini. 1997. On the blue shark, Prionace glauca, in Azorean waters. International meeting of the 16th Azorean glauca, in Azorean waters. International meeting of the 16th Azorean

Community Outreach

Articles in Magazines and Newsletters

Silva, A.A. 1999. A scuba-dive with sharks in the waters of the Azores. Mundo Submerso 27, February, 1999.

Silva, A.A. 1998. Sharks: a new exploited resource in Azorean waters. Mar Azul. The informal bulletin of the Regional Fisheries Office. Azorean Secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment. Vol. 2. ISSN 0874-0348.

Silva, A.A. 1997. Shark photography expedition in the Azores. Written contribution to ElasmoInfo, the quarterly newsletter of the Portuguese Association for the Study and Conservation of Elasmobranchs (APECE). October-December 1997, 2.

Silva, A.A. 1997. The spined pygmy shark occurs in the Azores. Written contribution to ElasmoInfo, the quarterly newsletter of the Portuguese Association for the Study and Conservation of Elasmobranchs (APECE). October-December 1997, 2.

Public Seminars

Silva, A.A. 1998. Sharks: ecological role in marine ecosystems. Seminar presented at the High School Cardeal Costa Nunes within the framework of DOP-UAç educational program in support of the community. Organized by Clube do Ambiente. Madalena, Pico, Açores, Portugal, January 21.

Silva, A.A. 1997. Sharks: ecological role in marine ecosystems. Seminar presented at the High School Dr. Manuel de Arriaga within the framework of DOP-UAç educational program in support of the community. Organized by Clube do Mar. Horta, Faial, Açores, Portugal, May 15.

Research Cruises and Expeditions

Sep. 2004: Sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) tagging cruise in Puget Sound, Washington. UW-Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Scientific crew member.

Oct. 2003: Sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) tagging cruise in Puget Sound, Washington. UW-WDFW. Scientific crew member.

Jul. 2000: Salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) satellite tagging cruise in Prince William Sound, Alaksa. R/V Montague (NMFS-Alaska Department of Fish and Game). Scientific crew member.

Apr.-May 2000: Groundfish longline cruise survey carried out by the R/V Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Universidade dos Açores (DOP-UAç). Cruise leader.

Aug. 1999: Groundfish longline research cruise carried out by the R/V Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-Uaç. Scientific crew member.

Apr.-May 1999: Groundfish longline cruise survey carried out by the R/V Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-UAç. Scientific crew member.

Sep. 1997: Deep-sea shark fishing cruise carried out by the R/V Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-UAç. Project "Biology of Some Macaronesian Deep-Sea Commercial Species," funded by the European Community, Study contract 95/032. Cruise leader.

Aug.-Sep. 1997: Expedition "Large Pelagics 97" carried out jointly by the R/Vs Arquipélago and Águas vivas in the Azores, Portugal. The expedition aimed to collect underwater photography and video of large pelagic fish (billfish, tuna and sharks) for exhibition at the world?s event EXPO' 98 (Theme: the Oceans) held in Lisbon, summer 1998. Expedition leader.

Jul. 1997: Expedition of the National Geographic Society aimed to film the deep-dive of the sperm-whales in Azorean waters, Portugal (using the crittercam system). Observer of DOP, Universidade dos Açores.

Mar.-Apr.1997: Groundfish longline cruise survey carried out by the R/V Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-UAç. Scientific crew member.

Jul. 1996: Expedition to the hydrothermal vents of the D. João de Castro Bank, Azores, Portugal. This expedition was carried out by the R/V Águas Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-UAç. Scientific crew member. the area. Member of the scientific diving team.

Aug.-Sep. 1994: Fishing observer onboard the commercial swordfish longliner M. Arriaga operating in the Azores, Portugal.

May 1994: Research cruise onboard the R/V Arquipélago aimed to deploy tuna Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-UAç. Scientific crew member.

Apr. 1994: Experimental tuna longline fishing cruise carried out by the R/V Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-UAç. Scientific crew member.

Apr. 1994: Groundfish longline cruise survey carried out by the R/V Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-UAç. Scientific crew member.

Mar 1994: Large pelagic longline cruise survey carried out by the R/V Arquipélago in the Azores, Portugal. DOP-UAç. Scientific crew member.

Certifications and Extracurricular Training

Aug. 1999: Course "Identification of Cartilaginous Fishes" lectured by Dr. Matthias Stehmann, Institut fuer Seefishcherei (ISH), Hamburg, Germany. DOP-UAç. Horta, Azores, Portugal, 5-10 August. Course organizer.

Jan.-Feb. 1999: Advanced course on "Stock Assessment" lectured by Drs. Emygdio L. Cadima and Manuel Afonso Dias (UCTRA-UAl). The course was organized by DOP-University of the Azores and received the financial support from the Secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries, Azorean Regional Government. Horta, Azores, Portugal.

Jul. 1995: Advanced course on "Biostatistics" organized by the Portuguese Association of Biologists and lectured by Professor Margarida Castro (UCTRA - Universidade do Algarve). Faro, Portugal.

1991: International Diver Certificate. C.M.A.S. * (Confederation Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques).